Eating is deeply tied to our emotional profile. Feeling celebratory? A pizza is in order. Dealing with heartbreak? Ice cream, lots of ice cream. The hormones cortisol and dopamine play a major role in what we crave and when. Cortisol, the stress hormone, makes us want to load up on carbs. <br />Dopamine, which is part of the brain's reward system, makes us crave <br />comfort foods. Eating our favorite foods triggers a release of serotonin, the <br />happy chemical. Eating can also be used as a distraction from painful or unpleasant emotions. Comfort foods are also often associated with <br />happy memories. Food for thought.
